Washing machine sump

ABSTRACT

An improved washing machine sump is provided which includes an air chamber in communication with an air pressure actuated water level control. The air chamber is defined between the body of the sump and the outer surface of an inner liner. The inlet to the sump forms the top portion of the liner and the outlet from the sump comprises the bottom of the body member. The bottom of the liner is spaced upwardly from the bottom of the body member and a seal is provided extending between the body member and liner proximal the top of the body member to define a top for the air chamber.

United States 7 Patent inventors Robert B. Beare;

Curtis R. Hartley, both of Benin, 111. Appl. No. 4,294 Filed Jan. 20, 1970 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 Assignee Fedders Corporation Edison, NJ.

WASHING MACHINE SUMP 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 137/403, 137/387, 68/208 Int. Cl D061 39/00, D06f 39/02 Field of Search 137/206, 208, 403, 387; 68/208 Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Attorney-Kane, Dalsimcr, Kane, Sullivan and Kurucz ABSTRACT: An improved washing machine sump is provided which includes an air chamber in communication with an air pressure actuated water level control. The air chamber is defined between the body of the sump and the outer surface of an inner liner. The inlet to the sump forms the top portion of the liner and the outlet from the sump comprises the bottom of the body member. The bottom of the liner is spaced upwardly from the bottom of the body member and a seal is provided extending between the body member and liner proximal the top of the body member to define a top for the air chamberv I la PATENTED um 2:9?!

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WASHING MACHINE SUMP SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sump for use in an automatic washing machine. Such washing machines are commonly provided with water level controls which are controlled by the pressure within an air bell which in turn is governed by the level of water within the tub. Heretofore it was common to connect the air bell to its own outlet at the side of the tub wall. This presented certain problems in leakage and assembly and also reduced the available volume of the tub.

It is therefore the principle objective of the present invention to provide a new and improved washing machine sump which includes as part thereof an air bell for the water level control. An additional object is to provide such a sump which may be readily and inexpensively manufactured and which occupies a minimum of volume within the washing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other beneficial objects and advantages are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing a washing machine sump comprising an elongated hollow body member having top and bottom ends with an elongated hollow liner disposed within the body member and coupled thereto. The liner is spaced inwardly from the body member so that the inner surface of the body member and the outer surface of the liner cooperate in defining an elongated chamber therebetween. The bottom of the liner is spaced upwardly from the bottom of the body member and the top of the chamber is sealed to prevent leakage from the chamber into either the interior of the liner or outside the body member. A conduit is provided proximal to the top of the chamber in communication with the air actuated water level control of the washing machine and extending through the body member to the chamber whereby the pressure within the chamber serves to actuate and deactuate the water level control.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a washing machine sump in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view taken along reference lines 2-2 of FIG. I in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational sectional view taken along reference lines 3-3 of FIG. I in the direction indicated by the arrows.

. DETAILED DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein similar components bear the same reference numeral throughout the several views. Thus, the present invention comprises sump which is designed to seat within an automatic washing machine of the double tub type below the outer tu'b. As installed, flange 22 of the sump is in communication with the tub outlet and the bottom end 14 connects to the circulatory system of the machine.

Sump I0 is elongated and generally tubular in shape and is defined by an outer body member 16 which is an extension on the bottom of the outer tub bottom and a top portion 20. The top portion extends upwardly from liner 18 which is concentrically mounted within body member 16. Liner 18 is spaced inwardly somewhat from the body member 16 so as to define an annular chamber 24 formed between the inner surface of body member 16 and the outer surface of liner 18. The liner should be spaced sufficiently far from the body member to prevent capillary action from occurring within the chamber and the diameter of the liner should be sufiiciently large to avoid a suction effect on the chamber. In one successful practice of the invention wherein a l9 gallon per minute flow rate was maintained in the washing machine, the inside diameter of liner l8 tapered from a top dimension of 2 inches to a bottom dimension of 1 13/16 inches, the liner was 0.060 inch thick, the inside diameter of body member 16 was 2.425 inches, and the inside diameter of outlet 14 was 1 inch. Liner 18 includes a top portion 20 which extends upwardly beyond the top edge of the body member.

A flange 22 extends outwardly from the liner below top portion 20 and rests on the top edge of the body member to form a closure which seals the top of chamber 24. The joint 26 between flange 22 and the top of body member must be airtight and in one successful practice of the present invention this was accomplished by forming both the liner and body member of polypropylene and spin welding the underside of flange 22 to the top of body member 16.

A top flange 28 extends from the tub toward the liner top portion 20 and a plurality of small openings 30 are provided extending longitudinally along the top portion 20 between top flange 28 and flange 22. A rectangular notch 29 is also provided in the liner top portion the top end of which is open. The primary water flow is through the top opening and rectangular notch 29. Openings 30 serve to drain the sump at the appropriate time in the machine cycle and are relatively narrow to permit water to flow from the washing machine tub into the interior of liner 18 while preventing larger objects, such as buttons or pins, from doing the same and thus serve as a trap to prevent such objects from entering the washing machine pump. A series of spacers 32 are provided extending outwardly from the liner and extending below flange 22 for a short distance. These spacers cooperate in maintaining the spaced-apart relationship between the liner l8 and body member 16.

As will be noted in FIG. 3, the bottom of body member 16 extends beyond the bottom 34 of liner I8. A baffle 40 extends outwardly from the bottom 34 of liner 18 into chamber 24. Baffle 40 serves to prevent turbulence created by high velocity at the neck of outlet 14 from disturbing the air within chamber 24. Notches 42 are provided in the bafile to prevent complete restriction during the draining and refilling operations 'of the machine cycle. As was previously stated the bottom 14 of body member 16 is designed to be coupled to the washing machine circulatory system and in this connection a conduit 36 is provided communicating with the interior of body member 16 below the bottom 34 of liner I8. Conduit 36 may be connected to a cleaning compound reservoir and serves to allow the compound, such as bleach, to be introduced into the washing machine water at the appropriate time in the washing cycle as the water is circulated. An additional conduit 38 is provided proximal the sealed top end of chamber 24. Conduit 38 serves to connect the interior of chamber 24 with a pressure actuated water level control (not shown) such as that which is commonly provided in automatic washing machines.

In operation, only the top portion 20 of sump 10 extends above the bottom of the outer tub of the washing machine. As the tub is filled, a static head of water builds in the center of liner 18. Since air has been trapped in chamber 24, pressure develops as the water head increases thereby creating a pressure within conduit 38 serving to control the pressure responsive water level control of the machine. At appropriate times in the washing machine cycle the tub is drained or filled as required and the duration of the draining or filling operation is controlled by the pressure within line 38 which in turn is controlled by the amount of fluid in the tub. If during the normal recirculation of water through the sump it is desired to add a cleaning compound this may be done through conduit 36 which is connected to an appropriate reservoir and pump (assuming that the washing machine is suitably equipped).

Thus, in accordance with the above, an improved washing machine sump is provided. It should be understood that modifications may be made in the illustrative and described embodiment of this invention without departing therefrom as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

l. A washing machine sump comprising an elongated hollow body member having a top end and a bottom end; an elongated hollow liner disposed within said body member and coupled thereto, said liner being spaced inwardly from said body member whereby to cooperate with the inner surface of said body member in defining an elongated chamber between the outer wall surface of said liner and the inner wall surface of 5 3. The washing machine sump as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liner includes a top portion extending beyond the top of said body member; a top end of said liner; and inlet means comprising at least one opening of relatively small dimension extending through said liner top portion to the liner interior whereby to prevent large objects from entering said liner interior.

4. The washing machine sump in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body member bottom end is open and adapted to be connected to the washing machine circulatory system and further comprising conduit means in communication with a reservoir extending through said body member to the interior thereof, said conduit means being spaced below the bottom of said liner. 

1. A washing machine sump comprising an elongated hollow body member having a top end and a bottom end; an elongated hollow liner disposed within said body member and coupled thereto, said liner being spaced inwardly from said body member whereby to cooperate with the inner surface of said body member in defining an elongated chamber between the outer wall surface of said liner and the inner wall surface of said body member; a bottom end of said liner spaced upwardly from the body member bottom end; means spaced upwardly from said liner bottom end extending between said liner and said body member sealing the top of said chamber; and conduit means in communication with an air actuated water level control extending through said body member to said chamber proximal said chamber top.
 2. The washing machine sump in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body member and said liner comprise concentrically mounted tubular elements whereby said chamber is annular in cross section.
 3. The washing machine sump as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liner includes a top portion extending beyond the top of said body member; a top end of said liner; and inlet means comprising at least one opening of relatively small dimension extending through said liner top portion to the liner interior whereby to prevent large objects from entering said liner interior.
 4. The washing machine sump in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body member bottom end is open and adapted to be connected to the washing machine circulatory system and further comprising conduit means in communication with a reservoir extending through said body member to the interior thereof, said conduit means being spaced below the bottom of said liner. 